Steve Melledew to be club guest for Crewe game

Promotion-winning top scorer returns to the EBB Stadium

Aldershot Town FC are delighted to advise supporters that the official club guest for this Saturday's home match will be the club's top scorer from the 1972/73 promotion-winning season, Steve Melledew.

It will be a particularly poignant day for Steve as he also played 56 games for Saturday's opponents later in his career.

Steve was born in Rochdale in November 1945, and began his football career with his home town club in 1966. He was a member of the Dale's first (and so far only) promotion winning side of 1969, although they very much look like repeating that feat this year.

A move to first division Everton followed and Steve spent two years at Goodison Park, but failed to break into the first team. He arrived at Aldershot in the summer of 1971 and made a goalscoring debut for The Shots, notching the second in a 2-2 draw with Workington in the opening fixture of the 1971/72 season. Steve went on to make 38 appearances for the club that season, scoring eight goals.

The 1972/73 season was of course a momentous one for Aldershot FC as they gained promotion for the first time in their history. Steve was an ever present in that promotion winning team, and top scored with 18 goals. He crowned the season by being named as the club's player of the year.

Steve played in 11 games for The Shots the following season before moving back north and signing for Bury. After 20 games for the Shakers he moved to Saturday's opponents Crewe Alexandra in 1974 and played 56 games for them, scoring twice before ending his career with his first club, Rochdale with 12 goals in 78 appearances.

In total, Steve made 343 football league appearances, and scored 66 goals. 92 of those appearances and 28 of the goals came for The Shots.

Steve played non league football for a while before hanging up his boots. More recently he has had a spell as manager of Hellenic League Side Newbury FC.

We are delighted to welcome Steve back to the EBB Stadium as our guest this Saturday, where he will be introduced on the pitch at half-time.

The fact that Steve is coming to Saturday's game is thanks to a supporter who provided us with his contact details. We are intending to continue to invite our former players back next season as guests, so if you know of the whereabouts of any former players, either pre 1992 or post 1992, please share them with Craig Matthews on craig.matthews3@ntlworld.com, or call at the press box prior to any home game where Craig will be delighted to speak to you.